Global Water Partnership

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is a global action network with over 3,000 Partner organisations in 179 countries. The network has 69 accredited Country Water Partnerships and 13 Regional Water Partnerships.

The network is open to all organisations involved in water resources management: developed and developing country government institutions, agencies of the United Nations, bi- and multi-lateral development banks, professional associations, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.

GWP's action network provides knowledge and builds capacity to improve water management at all levels: global, regional, national and local. GWP does not operate alone. Its networking approach provides a mechanism for coordinated action and adds value to the work of many other key development partners.

We are an ‘on-the-ground’ network that mobilises government, civil society, and the commercial sector to engage with each other to solve water problems.

Usually those problems stem from the demands of competing water users so it’s about how to manage, or govern, the resource itself. Our focus is on improving the way water is managed across sectors – it’s called the integrated approach.

Our comparative advantage is a large and diverse multi-stakeholder network that can deploy 20 years of knowledge and experience in applying the cross-sectoral integrated water resources management approach to sustainable development.

We’ve succeeded when water is managed sustainably while at the same time maximising social and economic welfare.

So what?

Water is the cornerstone of human health and economic development. GWP wants people to have clean water to lead healthy lives, we want communities protected from water-related threats, and we want to harness the productive power of water for sustainable development while protecting vital ecosystems.

None of that will happen unless we talk about good governance — having water policies, laws, financing, and institutions that are transparent, coherent, inclusive, and integrated across sectors. That’s why we advocate for the application of an integrated approach to water resources management (IWRM). Sustainable Development Goal #6 (on water) has adopted this approach and GWP has a 20-year track record in helping countries make it a reality.

What makes us special?

Good water governance isn’t going to happen unless there is an all-of-society involvement. That takes a credible, neutral, experienced multi-stakeholder network. We’ve got 3,000-plus institutional Partners in more than 170 countries. We have 68 accredited Country Water Partnerships. And we have 13 Regional Water Partnerships spanning the developing world and emerging economies. This combined platform embodies a core GWP belief: that only when a broad range of stakeholders work together will we change water management for the better.